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In a seemingly counter-intuitive move, independent U.S. Senate candidate Larry Pressler is doubling down on his ties to President Barack Obama instead of distancing himself from a president unpopular in South Dakota.

Pressler will hold a news conference this afternoon in which he invites Obama to come to South Dakota to discuss "how the Affordable Care Act can be tailored and fixed to work in small-town, rural South Dakota."

In the announcement he also condemns the South Dakota Republican Party for its impeachment resolution. (Democrat Rick Weiland has already done this in a much more vocal manner.)

Now, obviously the president isn't going to accept this invitation. For Pressler, making the invitation is a point.

But politically it suggests that Pressler is embracing what many people saw as a liability for his campaign: the fact that he had endorsed and voted for President Barack Obama.

Combined with Pressler's vocal embrace of same-sex marriage and gay rights, it suggests Pressler sees the biggest vote opportunity for him being among Democrats -- Weiland voters. Democrats in conservative states are often very leery to be seen (and photographed) with an unpopular Democratic president (just as Republicans in liberal states have the inverse when there's a GOP president).

None of the positions Pressler is taking put him to the left of Weiland -- and on other issues Pressler is clearly to Weiland's right. But the fact Pressler is taking positions approaching Weiland can't be viewed favorably in the Democrats' camp.

If Weiland were out of the race, a Pressler who combined a unified Democratic coalition with older voters who remember Pressler fondly from his days in Washington could make the race interesting, especially with Gordon Howie taking votes from Rounds' flank. But if Weiland and Pressler divide the Democratic base between them, Rounds coasts even if his absolute support remains low. (Also, Pressler has yet to show he can raise serious money, which would be a necessity if he wants a shot at winning.)